Shopping centre upskirting sparks warning to visiting sailors

Seafarers docking in Port Hedland are being advised about appropriate behaviour in Australia, after several incidents at the local shopping centre.

Pamphlets are being sent out to incoming ships after a Filipino man was prosecuted and fined $1,800 for filming up a woman's skirt while she was shopping earlier this year.

Boulevard Shopping Centre management has put up posters warning photography and video recording is forbidden in the building.

Port Hedland Seafarers Centre chaplain, Alan Mower, says the pamphlets remind international sailors that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.

"It's an isolated incident that I think has been perhaps blown out of proportion a little, not withstanding the severity of the action that the seafarer who was caught taking the photograph," he said.

"You've got to remember that they're at sea for two to three months on end without getting on land, so they're looking for a bit of human contact."

He says education is the key issue.

"Within the different cultures that come through our port, they don't understand how we in Australia view things, so what we are doing is highlighting it's inappropriate action here and it could result in legal prosecution, fining and even loss of job," he said.